The production is widely hated by those who have to perform it because it’s unplayable and unsingable. How could the ABC possibly have expected anybody to suffer through the length of it beats me. In contrast to the OA Midsummer N’s D I saw at SOH the other night, this pales. They should have braodcast that instead, many would have watched and enjoyed a fine performance.

Speaking as a fan of modern opera – even a lot of contemporary stuff – this is a production that just doesn’t hit the mark. OA keeps commissioning original Australian works and they keep bombing with audiences and critics alike. They’ve had a few good shots – Eighth Wonder, Voss – but most of the commissions of recent years are indefensible.

Braodcast quality seemed okay to me in the twenty minutes we stuck it out – audio was okay – it’s a live braodcast people, they’re technically hard to pull off even when the music is good. ABC should ditch the Chaser guy though. Everyone knows his shtick and his presence just jarrs.

I really feel bad for anyone who’s only opportunity to see this performed is on tv or at the cinema broadcasts. I think that ABC2 ought to spend some money on getting some tech’s and engineers on the job to improve the quality of the broadcast.

Also for those who ask why the ABC should bother to broadcast something like this, should remember that it is in the ABC’s charter to broadcast cultural as well as sporting events, if the ABC didn’t pick up the slack I doubt any of the commercial channels or SBS would broadcast this or many other events such as the Paralympics. The ABC is right to stick with its decision.